church today - Diocese of Alexandria

Transcription

CHURCH
Volume XLVI, No. 3
www.diocesealex.org
TODAY
Serving the Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana Since 1970
March 23, 2015
ON THE
INSIDE
Holy Week Services
Looking for a Mass to attend
this Easter? or maybe you want to
participate in an Outdoor Way of
the Cross on Good Friday. Check
out all of the Holy Week services
in the diocese on pages 8-9.
44 candidates to be
welcomed into full
communion this Easter
Celebrating
Easter
at Sunrise
at Holy Rosary Mission,
Emmanuel, La
Following the Rite of Election
on Feb. 22, 44 candidates and
catechumens are expected to
enter fully into communion with
the Church this Easter. See pages
12-13 for Rite of Election pics.
Pope Francis declares
an extraordinary jubilee,
Holy Year of Mercy
Traditionally, every 25 years
the popes proclaim a holy year,
which features special celebrations and pilgrimages, among
other events. Extraordinary holy
years, like the Holy Year of Mercy,
are less frequent, but offer the
same opportunities for spiritual
growth. Find out more on page 2.
FATHER KENNETH OBIEKWE, pastor of Holy Rosary Mission in Emmanuel, La, celebrates a
Sunrise Mass on Easter Sunday, outdoors amid the tall pine trees and blooming azaleas.
PAGE 2
CHURCH TODAY
MARCH 23, 2015
Christians are dying at the hands of people who hate Jesus Christ
VATICAN CITY (CNS)
-- Condemning deadly terrorist
attacks against a Catholic and
an Anglican church in Pakistan,
Pope Francis said “the world is
trying to hide” a wave of antiChristian persecution in various
parts of the globe.
“With sadness, with much
sadness, I learned of the terrorist
attacks today against two churches in Lahore … provoking numerous deaths and injuries,” the pope
said March 15 after reciting the
Angelus with visitors gathered in
St. Peter’s Square.
Suicide bombers that morning detonated themselves outside
the churches, which are both in
the same predominantly Christian neighborhood. Officials said
15 people were killed and more
than four dozen were injured by
PROTESTING KILLING OF CHRISTIAN COUPLE. Pakistani members of the
Christian minority shout slogans during a Nov. 9 protest in Karachi, Pakistan,
against the killing of a Christian couple accused of blasphemy. The Catholic
Church in Pakistan has presented a series of demands to the government,
calling for a fair and thorough investigation into the beatings and burning of the
young Christian couple. (CNS photo/Shahzaib Akber, EPA)
the blasts.
Particularly with the persecution of Christians in Syria,
Iraq and Nigeria, Pope Francis
frequently has denounced the
growing wave of anti-Christian
violence, a violence that is not
simply a matter of restricting religious freedom, but a martyrdom
of Christians.
At a Mass in early February,
when the Gospel reading recounted the killing of St. John the Baptist, Pope Francis said it made him
“think of our martyrs, the martyrs
of today, those men, women and
children who are persecuted,
hated, chased from their homes,
tortured and massacred. This is
not something from the past; it is
happening today. Our martyrs are
ending their lives under the corrupt authority of people who hate
Jesus Christ.”
In Pakistan, Archbishop Joseph Coutts of Karachi, president
of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops’
Conference, urged the government “to take strong measure for
the protection of the churches and
religious minorities in Pakistan.”
“The government, political
parties, religious leaders and every citizen of Pakistan (should)
stand against extremist forces and
with their Christian brothers and
sisters,” the archbishop said in a
statement, adding that “the whole
nation should join hands and
stand against terrorism.”
He pleaded with federal and
provincial governments “to take
effective measures in providing
security to the churches throughout Pakistan to ensure freedom of
religion and belief.”
Pope seeks prayers for Egyptians beheaded by Islamic State
By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -Pope Francis called for prayers
for the Egyptian Christians beheaded by Islamic State militants
in Libya and asked that God recognize these men killed for their
faith.
He offered morning Mass
Feb. 17 in the chapel of his residence for the slain Christians he
termed “our 21 brother Copts”
whose throats had been slit “for
the sole reason of being Christians,” and he requested people
pray for the victims so “that the
Lord welcome them as martyrs.”
He called on people to pray
as well for the victims’ families
and for Egypt’s Orthodox leader,
Pope Tawadros II, “who is suffering so much.” Pope Francis called
Pope Tawadros Feb. 16 to express
his sorrow over the deaths.
Egypt, meanwhile, continued to mourn its 21 nationals,
who had been working in Libya
when the extremist group kidnapped them. Their beheading
was depicted in gruesome detail
in a video released Feb. 15 on a
pro-Islamic State website.
The same evening in a nationally televised speech, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah
al-Sisi called on his country’s
government to provide full support to the families of the victims
and vowed that Egypt maintained
the right to retaliate.
Soon afterward, the Egyptian
air force began bombing what it
said were Islamic State targets in
Libya.
In a statement issued Feb. 16
by the Coptic Catholic Church,
Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac Sedrak of
Alexandria, Egypt, extended his
church’s “deepest sympathies” to
the families and relatives of the
murdered Christians.
In apparent reference to the
retaliatory military action his
country has since taken, Patriarch
Sedrak also extended his church’s
“deepest gratitude” to al-Sisi and
“our country’s loyal armed forces, especially the air forces, for
the rapid response.”
“Egyptian blood is valuable
and honorable,” he said.
Speaking after the video of
the beheadings surfaced -- but
before the strikes against Islamic
State in Libya were announced
WOMEN PRAY FOR 21 CHRISTIANS KILLED IN EGYPT. Coptic Christian
women attend a Feb. 17 service in Cairo for the Egyptians said to have been
beheaded in Libya. A video released on social media Feb. 15 is said to show
the beheadings. (CNS photo/Mohamed Abd El Ghany, Reuters)
-- Pope Tawadros offered his
church’s condolences to the relatives of the slain Christian migrant workers, most of whom lo-
cal media reported had been from
the same impoverished village in
Egypt’s South.
Pope Tawadros said he trust-
ed the way predominantly Muslim Egypt’s government was handling the situation.
“We trust that the role of all
institutions of our state was clear
since the beginning of the crisis
in Libya, and we believe that they
can ensure rights of Egyptian citizens,” the Egyptian portal Ahram
Online quoted Pope Tawadros as
saying.
Condemnation for the beheading of the Egyptian Christians in Libya quickly grew
beyond Egypt as regional leaders, Muslim and Christian alike,
learned of the massacre.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II,
whose country is also fighting
Islamic State militants in neighboring Iraq and Syria, called
the beheadings of the Egyptian
Christians a “heinous crime”
committed “at the hands of the
terrorist gang ... hostile to all human values.”
MARCH 23, 2015
CHURCH TODAY
PAGE 3
Pope declares an extraordinary jubilee, a Holy Year of Mercy
By Cindy Wooden
(CNS) -- Pope Francis announced an extraordinary jubilee,
a Holy Year of Mercy, to highlight
the Catholic Church’s “mission to
be a witness of mercy.”
“No one can be excluded
from God’s mercy,” the pope said
March 13, marking the second
anniversary of his pontificate by
leading a Lenten penance service
in St. Peter’s Basilica.
“I frequently have thought
about how the church can make
more evident its mission to be a
witness of mercy,” he said during
his homily; that is why he decided
to call a special Holy Year, which
will be celebrated from Dec. 8,
2015, until Nov. 20, 2016.
The biblical theme of the
year, he said, will be “Be merciful, just as your Father is merci-
ful,” an admonition that applies
“especially to confessors,” the
pope said with a smile.
Traditionally, every 25 years
the popes proclaim a holy year,
which features special celebra-
tions and pilgrimages, strong calls
for conversion and repentance,
and the offer of special opportunities to experience God’s grace
through the sacraments, especially confession. Extraordinary
holy years, like the Holy Year of
Mercy, are less frequent, but offer
the same opportunities for spiritual growth.
The doors of the church “are
wide open so that all those who
are touched by grace can find
the certainty of forgiveness,”
Pope Francis said at the penance
service, which featured individual confessions. It was part of
a worldwide celebration of “24
Hours for the Lord,” in which
Catholic churches were staying
open for prayer, eucharistic adoration and confession.
At each of the dozens of confessionals in St. Peter’s Basilica,
as well as in simple chairs scat-
tered along the walls, priests welcomed people to the sacrament.
The pope removed his liturgical
vestments and went to confession
before putting on a purple stole
and hearing the confessions of
others.
“God never ceases to demonstrate the richness of his mercy
over the course of centuries,” the
pope said in his homily, which
preceded the confessions. God
touches people’s hearts with his
grace, filling them with repentance and a desire to “experience
his love.”
“Being touched by the tenderness of his hand,” people
should not be afraid to approach
a priest and confess their sins, he
said. In the confessional, one has
“the certainty of being welcomed
in the name of God and understood, despite our misery.”
Pope says church ‘is the house of Jesus’ and must always be open
(CNS) -- The church “is the
house of Jesus,” and Christians
must welcome everyone, even
bringing those who are unable to
make their way on their own, said
Pope Francis at morning Mass
March 17.
People who are sad or “sick
in their soul” or who have “made
many mistakes in their lives”
may, at a certain point, feel the
Holy Spirit inspire them to go to
church, the pope said. But, after
mustering up the courage to go,
they will often find unwelcoming and judgmental Christian
communities with their “doors
closed” to them.
Mimicking unwelcoming parishioners, Pope Francis said they
tell people, “You made a mistake
here and you cannot (enter). If
you would like to come, come
to Sunday Mass, but stay there,
don’t do more.”
In this way, “that which
the Holy Spirit does in people’s
hearts, Christians -- with a psychology of doctors of the law
-- then destroy,” the pope said at
the Mass in the Domus Sanctae
Marthae.
“Who are you to close the
door of your heart to a man, to
a woman who has the will to
improve, to re-enter the people
of God because the Holy Spirit
stirred their heart?” he said.
Pope Francis went on to say
that such incidents are disappointing for him and he insisted
that the church must have its
doors always open.
“It is the house of Jesus and
Jesus welcomes. Not only does
he welcome, he goes out to find
people, just as he went to find
(the paralytic),” said the pope, referring to the day’s Gospel reading (Jn 5:1-16). “If people are
wounded, what does Jesus do?
Does he reprimand them because
they are wounded? No, he carries
them on his shoulder. And this is
called mercy.”
And when God reproaches
his people, calling for mercy and
not sacrifice, the pope continued,
this is what he means.
The pope added that Lent
is the time to avoid making the
same mistake as those who bear
contempt against Jesus’ love for
the paralytic because, having
healed him on the Sabbath, it may
seem contrary to the law.
He concluded with a prayer
for the conversion of the whole
church to the mercy of Jesus.
PAGE 4
When the 40 days of prayer,
penance and works of charity
began in mid-February, Easter
seemed so far away in the distance. So many days to reform
our lives. But with only a few
days remaining, our spiritual
journey through Lent is about to
come to an end.
How did we do this Lent?
Did you abstain from meat on
Fridays and fast in between
meals? Did you stick with your
resolution to “give up” something
or perhaps stick with a spiritual
commitment to improve your
prayer life or your relationship
with God?
If you did, congratulations!
But if you didn’t -- there’s
still time to make the most of
Lent. Holy Week is upon us and
the spiritually-rich days of this
CHURCH TODAY
ONE IN
THE LORD
Most Rev. Ronald P. Herzog
Bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria
time in the Church are powerful.
On Tuesday of Holy Week,
the annual Chrism Mass will be
celebrated at St. Francis Xavier
Cathedral at 11 a.m. This very
symbolic Mass is a time for all
priests to renew their priestly
vows and for the bishop to bless
all the holy oils that will be used
by priests administering certain
sacraments throughout the year.
If you’ve never been to a Chrism
Mass, it is definitely worth the
time to attend.
Next is the three-day liturgical season, called the Sacred or
Easter Triduum, that begins with
the Solemn Celebration of the
Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday
evening and concludes with Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday.
When celebrated prayerfully
and devoutly, these three days
are rich beyond words. Make the
extra effort to take part in whatever your home parish offers on
these three days -- celebration of
the Lord’s Supper, Stations of the
Cross, or Good Friday services.
And, by all means, if you
haven’t been to Confession yet,
the lights are on in the confessionals and there is a priest there
waiting for you. Check your home
parish bulletin or go to www.diocesealex.org for a listing.
The Solemn Easter Vigil
of the Lord’s Resurrection is of
special significance, especially
for those preparing to come into
the full sacramental life of the
Church. Congratulations in advance to all who will be received
into full communion this Easter.
Please make a special effort to
welcome them and help them
become active members of your
MARCH 23, 2015
parish communities.
Finally, the entire holy season reaches its climax on Easter
Sunday, when the resurrected Son
of God returns to his disciples to
reveal that He is the Risen Lord.
It is indeed, one of the holiest and
most glorious days of our faith.
Experience it!
Please continue to keep me
in your prayers as I continue my
recovery and resume my regular
ministry. I truly appreciate all the
prayers and encouragement.
May the Lord bestow the
richest of blessings upon you as
we approach Holy Week and the
most holy season of Easter.
Whose life is it anyway? Thoughts on physician-assisted suicide
In college I wrote a medical ethics paper on a play titled,
Whose Life Is It Anyway? That
old paper came to mind recently
when I learned that the campaign
for physician-assisted suicide has
been gaining momentum. The renewed push to legalize “aid in dying,” or “death with dignity,” as
various groups euphemistically
call it, is the result of positive
media coverage in the wake of a
young terminally ill woman’s decision to end her life on her own
terms and at the precise moment
of her choosing.
Whose life is it anyway? I
can’t get this question out of my
mind as I come to grips with the
fact that assisted suicide legislation is currently being introduced
in a dozen states and the District
of Columbia. While some persons
faced with serious illness consider taking their lives because
they fear they will be a burden
to others or have no one to care
for them, for others this choice is
a declaration of personal autonomy. To the question, Whose life
is it anyway? they answer, “It is
mine to do with what I want.”
The claim that each of us is
master of our own life, with the
power to do with it whatever we
choose, just doesn’t make sense.
After all, which of us chose the
date, time or conditions of our
birth? Who of us ultimately gets
to choose the path that will lead
to our death — will it be an accident, a random act of violence,
a sudden heart attack or a pro-
Guest
Editorial
Sister Constance Veit, LSP
Little Sisters of the Poor
longed illness? Human logic
would tell us that we are never
completely in control of our lives.
God’s word should convince us
of this as well.
Sacred Scripture reminds us
that we are God’s creatures —
made in his image and likeness
— and that our lives are in his
hands at every moment. From the
psalmist’s confession that “every
one of my days was decreed before one of them came into being”
(Ps 139:16), to Saint Paul’s proclamation that “in him we live and
move and have our being” (Acts
17:28), it is clear that God is the
author of our existence. Each of
us is a steward — not the master
— of our own life.
But God is a loving master,
and that makes all the difference.
In his landmark encyclical, The
Gospel of Life, Saint John Paul
II wrote, “If it is true that human
life is in the hands of God, it is
no less true that these are loving hands, like those of a mother
who accepts, nurtures and takes
care of her child.” Pope Francis
shared similar sentiments in his
2015 Lenten message: God “is
not aloof from us. Each one of us
has a place in his heart. He knows
us by name, he cares for us and
he seeks us out whenever we turn
away from him.”
In our sophisticated, materialistic society we easily turn
away from God, denying him and
his providence over us. Modern
man, Saint John Paul II wrote,
has “lost the sense of God,” and
with it, the sense of the human
person and his dignity as “mysteriously different” from the rest
of creation. In this context we can
easily succumb to the temptation
to manipulate and dominate our
lives rather than cherishing them
as a gift. Suffering is seen as a
useless burden to be eliminated at
all cost, even if this means suppressing life itself.
There is another path, however. Even as the media focused
their attention on a dying woman
from California late last year, a
similarly ill college freshman in
Ohio vowed never to give up.
Despite the seeming hopelessness
of her situation, she professed her
belief that God has the last say.
This young woman has found a
purpose in her suffering and insists that she still loves life. She
keeps on giving of herself and is
an inspiration to many.
I pray for this young woman
and for all the elderly, disabled
and those with terminal illnesses, that they may find peace and
courage in the conviction that
God knows them by name and
holds them close to his heart.
Strengthened by the sacraments
CHURCH
and assisted by Our Lady and all
the angels and saints, may they
serenely abandon their lives into
his hands.
Whose life is it anyway? God
has given us this life as a gift and
he expects us to cherish it as his
good stewards.
Sister Constance Veit is director of vocations for the Little
Sisters of the Poor.
TODAY
Volume XLVI, No. 3 • March 23, 2015
P. O. Box 7417 • Alexandria, LA 71303
churchtoday@diocesealex.org 318-445-6424
Publisher:
Editor:
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Circulation:
Most Rev. Ronald P. Herzog, Bishop of Alexandria
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Sandi Tarver, ext. 209; starver@diocesealex.org
THE CHURCH TODAY (USPS 393-240) is published by the Catholic
Diocese of Alexandria, once a month, free of charge to members of
the parishes in the Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana. Out of diocese
subscriptions are $20 a year.
The office is located at 4400 Coliseum Blvd., Alexandria, LA 71303.
Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, LA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The CHURCH TODAY, P. O. Box 7417, Alexandria,
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MARCH 23, 2015
CHURCH TODAY
PAGE 5
Pope Francis offers tips on preparing for confession
28-page booklet gives instructions for ‘safeguarding the heart’
By Carol Glatz
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -As Catholics are encouraged to
make going to confession a significant part of their lives during
Lent, Pope Francis offered some
quick tips to help people prepare
for the sacrament of penance.
After a brief explanation of
why people should go to confession -- “because we are all sinners” -- the pope listed 30 key
questions to reflect on as part of
making an examination of conscience and being able to “confess well.”
The guide is part of a 28page booklet in Italian released
by the Vatican publishing house.
Pope Francis had 50,000 free
copies distributed to people attending his Angelus address Feb.
22, the first Sunday of Lent.
Titled “Safeguard your
heart,” the booklet is meant to
help the faithful become “courageous” and prepared to battle
against evil and choose the good.
The booklet contains quick
introductions to Catholic basics:
it has the text of the Creed, a list
of the gifts of the Holy Spirit,
the Ten Commandments and the
Beatitudes. It explains the seven
sacraments and includes Pope
Francis’ explanation of “lectio
divina,” a prayerful way of reading Scripture in order to better
hear “what the Lord wants to tell
us in his word and to let us be
transformed by his Spirit.”
The booklet’s title is based
on a line from one of the pope’s
morning Mass homilies in which
he said Christians need to guard
and protect their hearts, “just as
you protect your home -- with a
lock.”
“How often do bad thoughts,
bad intentions, jealousy, envy enter?” he asked. “Who opened the
door? How did those things get
in?”
The Oct. 10, 2014, homily,
which is excerpted in the booklet,
said the best way to guard one’s
heart is with the daily practice of
an “examination of conscience,”
in which one quietly reviews
what bad things one has done and
what good things one has failed
to do for God, one’s neighbor and
oneself.
Catholics should go to confession, the pope said, because
everyone needs forgiveness for
their sins, for the ways “we think
and act contrary to the Gospel.”
“Whoever says he is without
sin is a liar or is blind,” he wrote.
Confession is meant to be a
sincere moment of conversion, an
occasion to demonstrate trust in
God’s willingness to forgive his
children and to help them back on
the path of following Jesus, Pope
Francis wrote.
Pope Francis said a group
of volunteers, including many
homeless people, distributed the
booklet to the pilgrims present in
St. Peter’s Square. He urged everyone to take a copy of the booklet and carry it around with them
to help in their conversion and
spiritual growth which always
comes from the heart.
Safeguarding the Heart through daily practice of an
Examination of Conscience
Some of the questions include:
• Do I only turn to God when I’m in need?
• Do I attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation?
• Do I begin and end the day with prayer?
• Am I embarrassed to show that I am a Christian?
• Do I rebel against God’s plan?
• Am I envious, hot-tempered, biased?
• Am I honest and fair with everyone or do I fuel the “throwaway
culture?”
• In my marital and family relations, do I uphold morality as
taught in the Gospels?
• Do I honor and respect my parents?
• Have I refused newly conceived life? Have I snuffed out the
gift of life? Have I helped others to do so?
• Do I respect the environment?
• Am I part worldly and part believer?
• Do I overdo it with eating, drinking, smoking and amusements?
• Am I overly concerned about my physical well-being, my
possessions?
• How do I use my time? Am I lazy?
• Do I want to be served?
• Do I dream of revenge, hold grudges?
• Am I meek, humble and a builder of peace?
PAGE 6
CHURCH TODAY
MARCH 23, 2015
What makes the Chrism Mass held during Holy Week so special?
The annual Chrism Mass
will be held March 31 at 11 a.m.
at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in
Alexandria.
Priests from around the diocese will concelebrate the Mass
with the bishop, and they will renew their vows to the priesthood.
Students from each of the
Catholic schools have been invited to attend.
What is the Chrism Mass?
The Chrism Mass is a special Mass celebrated during Holy
Week by the bishop at the Cathedral of the diocese, and joined by
all of the priests of the diocese.
What is the purpose of the
Mass?
Two things take place at the
Chrism Mass:
• The bishop blesses three
oils — the oil of catechumens
(oleum catechumenorum or
oleum sanctorum), the oil of the
infirm (oleum infirmorum) and
holy chrism (sacrum chrisma)
— which will be used in the administration of the sacraments
throughout the diocese for the
year.
• The bishop reunites with
his priests where they renew
their vows to the priesthood. This
Mass manifests the unity of the
priests with their bishop.
What is the oil of catechumens?
The Oil of Catechumens
is used in connection with the
sacrament of baptism. St. Hippolytus, in his Apostolic Tradition (A.D. 215), wrote of an “oil
of exorcism” used to anoint the
candidates immediately before
baptism. This practice continues
today.
Retired Archbishop John Favalora celebrated the Chrism Mass last year at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral.
Anointing with the oil of
catechumens following a prayer
of exorcism may also take place
during the period of the catechumenate on one or several occasions. In both cases this anointing
symbolizes the person’s need for
the help and strength of God to
sever the bondage of the past and
to overcome the opposition of the
devil so that he may profess his
faith, come to baptism and live as
a child of God.
faith will reclaim the one who is
ill, and the Lord will restore him
to health. If he has committed any
sins, forgiveness will be his” (Jas
5:14-15).
What is the oil of the infirm?
The oil of the infirm is used
in the sacrament of the anointing of the sick (formerly known
as extreme unction). St. James
wrote, “Is there anyone sick
among you? He should ask for
the priests of the Church. They in
turn are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of
the Lord. This prayer uttered in
How is holy chrism used?
In baptism, the priest anoints
the person on the crown of the
head with chrism, right after the
actual baptism. This practice
comes from St. Hippolytus in
the Apsotolic Tradition when he
spoke of an anointing after the
actual baptism with the “oil of
thanksgiving.”
In the sacrament of confirma-
What is holy chrism?
This oil is used in the sacraments of baptism, confirmation,
and holy orders, since they impart
an indelible sacramental character. This oil is linked with the
sanctification of individuals.
tion, the bishop anoints the forehead of the candidate with chrism
saying, “Be sealed with the gift of
the Holy Spirit.”
Sacred chrism is also used
in the sacrament of holy orders.
In the ordination rite of a priest,
the bishop anoints with chrism
the palms of each new priest. In
the ordination rite of a bishop, the
consecrating bishop anoints the
head of the new bishop.
Finally, holy chrism is used
in the dedication ceremony of a
church. Here the bishop anoints
the altar, pouring holy chrism on
the middle of the altar and on each
of its four corners.
Why does the bishop “breathe”
into the holy chrism vessel?
The blessing of the holy
chrism is different from that of
the other oils: Here the bishop breathes over the vessel of
chrism, a gesture which symbolizes both the Holy Spirit coming
down to consecrate this oil, and
the life-giving, sanctifying nature of the sacraments for which
it is used. (Recall how our Lord
“breathed” on the Apostles on the
night of Easter, saying, ‘Receive
the Holy Spirit’” (Jn 20:22).)
The concelebrants at the
Chrism Mass also extend their
right hands toward the chrism as
the bishop says the consecratory
prayer, signifying that in union
with their bishop they share “in
the authority by which Christ
Himself builds up and sanctifies
and rules His Body,” the Church
(Vatican II, Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests, No. 2).
When was the Chrism Mass
started?
This tradition is rooted in
the early Church as noted in the
Gelasian Sacramentary (named
after Pope Gelasius I, d. 496) but
was later absorbed into the Holy
Thursday evening Mass; Pope
Pius XII issued a new Ordinal for
Holy Week, which reinstituted a
special Mass of the chrism distinct from the evening Mass.
Continued on page 10
BLESSING THE HOLY OILS. Retired Archbishop John Favalora blesses the
sacramental oils with the assistance of Rev. Chad Partain and Deacon Richard Mitchell, during the annual Chrism Mass held last year at the Cathedral.
MARCH 23, 2015
CHURCH TODAY
PAGE 7
Pilgrims who walk Via Dolorosa don’t mind if it isn’t Jesus’ exact route
By Judith Sudilovsky
JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Several pilgrim groups gathered in a
sunny courtyard in Jerusalem’s
Old City. They were preparing
to follow a tradition reaching
back at least to the fifth century:
walking along the Via Dolorosa,
through the cobbled streets of Jerusalem’s Old City.
The Via Dolorosa represents
the route taken by Jesus on the
way to his crucifixion, until he
was laid in the tomb. Although
the route followed for this devotion has changed over the centuries, the need and desire of the
Christian faithful to walk in Jesus’ footsteps has not. The current
route was probably formalized in
the 18th century.
“To follow the actual footsteps of Jesus is pretty amazing.
It brings his message even more
into our hearts,” said Marilyn
McDonough, 64, a Catholic from
Santa Clara, Calif. “I keep thinking about all the suffering he did
for us and what he went through
mentally and physically. It is
overwhelming for me to be here.”
At the same time, she said,
she is aware that no one knows
for certain the exact places where
Jesus walked. The restored 12thcentury Chapel of the Flagellation that stands in the courtyard
today was built on the location of
a fifth-century church.
ST. PATRICK CHURCH (Montgomery) STATIONS OF THE CROSS. After Mass and Adoration of the Holy Cross,
members of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Montgomergy remembered the Passion of Christ last year on Good Friday
by walking the Stations of the Cross all around town. Many church parishes throughout the diocese have organized
outdoor Stations of the Cross in their towns. (See pages 8 -9.)
“If you take the whole area of
Jerusalem, I know Jesus walked
in this area. Did he step in this
very spot? Maybe not, but I know
he walked in other spots, and if I
walk around here I can feel it in
my heart,” she said.
Nigerian pilgrims sang a traditional hymn; an Asian group
stood in orderly rows, chanting a
prayer and led by a pilgrim carrying a large cross. Groups from
Eastern Europe and the United
States stood in different corners of
the courtyard, some listening as a
guide presented religious and historical explanations of the place,
while others bent their heads in
silent or communal prayer.
Starting with the first station,
in the courtyard of the nearby el’Omariyya Muslim school, they
would all walk the same path,
stopping to pray and reflect at the
traditional 14 stations, with the final five located inside the Church
of the Holy Sepulcher.
Some of the pilgrim groups
walked the path carrying a cross
as Jesus did. On Fridays the Franciscans lead an official procession
along the Via Dolorosa.
“Sometimes you will see pilgrims here from 4 a.m. and until
late at night,” said Franciscan
Father Eugenio Alliata, professor
of Christian archaeology at the
Studium Biblicum Franciscanum.
“Everyone sings and prays according to their tradition, in their
own language. Jesus walked with
a real cross, the pilgrims walk
with a symbolic cross. Each one
has his own cross to bear, and Jesus helps them to do that.”
There is no clear consensus
among biblical scholars that this
current Via Dolorosa tradition is
the actual route taken by Jesus. It
is based on the assumption that
the Pretorium, where Pontius
Pilate judged Jesus, would have
been at that time the Antonia Fortress, built by King Herod.
With no hard archaeological
evidence of where the Pretorium
was, where Jesus’ trial took place
and which path he took to his
own crucifixion, scholars of biblical history base their assumptions
upon what they know of the layout and social mores of the Roman-occupied city of Jerusalem
of that time.
Some, like archaeologist
Amit Reem, believe that one
probability is that the Roman
governor would have stayed in
the palace of the Judean king during his stays in Jerusalem, and he
would have judged Jesus from
there. The palace is thought to
have been in what is today’s Tower of David Museum just inside
Jaffa Gate.
Reem, who works for the Israel Antiquities Authority, recently finished 10 years of excavation
work revealing the foundations
and a drainage system of King
Herod’s palace in one of the museum buildings.
“It can be fair to think that
Pontius Pilate, the Roman representative of Caesar, stayed in
Herod’s Palace while in Jerusalem,” said Reem, standing outside the ruins of the monumental
steps leading to what is believed
to have been Herod’s famous
pools. The area was excavated in
the 1980s by archaeologist Rene
Sivan.
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PAGE 8
CHURCH TODAY
MARCH 23, 2015
Holy Week Services
St. Anthony, Bunkie
• 6:30 p.m. Mass, followed by Adoration until 10 p.m.
Saturday, March 28
Vigil for Palm Sunday
St. Juliana Church, Alexandria
• Live presentation of the Passion
Play by a local men’s prayer group,
6 p.m., in the church hall
Friday, April 3
Good Friday
Mater Dolorosa, Plaucheville
• Blessing of palms and procession
at all Masses
• 5:30 p.m. showing of The Passion
of Christ with discussion to follow
St. Anthony, Bunkie
• Easter Egg Hunt after 10:30 a.m.
Mass
Sunday, March 29
Palm Sunday
• Blessing of palms and procession
at all Masses
• 5:30 p.m. showing of The Passion
of Christ with discussion to follow
Tuesday, March 31
St. Francis Xavier Cathedral,
Alexandria
• Chrism Mass at 11a.m. at the
Cathedral in Alexandria. Renewal
of priestly vows and consecration of
sacred oils used in the Sacraments
for the coming year.
LIVE PASSION PLAY will be performed Saturday, March 28 at 6 p.m. at St. Juliana Church by a local men’s prayer
group. Don’t miss this popular live re-enactment of the Passion of Christ. Free and open to the public.
Mary, Mother of Jesus,
Woodworth
• Penance Service, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, April 1
Spy Wednesday
St. Rita Church, Alexandria
• TENEBRAE (evening prayer) 7:30
p.m.
• Seder Supper beginning with Mass
at 6:30PM; Seder begins at 7PM.
Sacred Heart, Pineville
• Living Stations of the Cross, 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 2
Holy Thursday
St. Francis Xavier Cathedral
• 5:30 p.m. Mass of the Lord’s
Supper
OLPS, Alexandria
• 7 p.m. Mass of the Lord’s Supper
• 8 p.m. - midnight Adoration
• 5:30 pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper
7:00 pm - 12 midnight Solemn
Adoration
• 6 p.m. Mass of the Lord’s Supper, followed by parish meal and
Adoration
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• Mass of the Last Supper beginning
at 6:30 p.m. with the presentation
of the oils from the Chrism Mass.
Adoration until 9 p.m. in the Adoration Chapel.
St. Frances Cabrini, Alexandria
• 6 p.m. Mass, followed by Adoration until midnight
MB of the Immaculate Conception
Natchitoches
• 7 p.m. Mass
St. Genevieve, Brouillette
• 6 p.m. Mass
St. Alphonsus, Hessmer
• 7 p.m. Mass followed by Adoration
in the chapel until mdnight
• 1 p.m. Passion Walk (walk from
Cathedral to OLPS in Alexandria)
A bus will return people to Cathedral
after the walk, if anyone wants to
attend 3 p.m. service at Cathedral
• 3 p.m. Passion of the Lord
OLPS, Alexandria
• 1 p.m. Passion Walk (walk from
Cathedral to OLPS in Alexandria)
• 12:40 bus leaves OLPS to take
people to Cathedral to start Passion
Walk that will start at 1 p.m.
3 p.m. Good Friday service at OLPS
6 p.m. Stations of the Cross
• 9 a.m. Living Stations Walk
• 2:45 p.m. Veneration of the Cross
Immaculate Conception
Natchitoches
• 10 a.m. Outdoor Way of the Cross
• 3 p.m. Good Friday service
• 12:05 pm Way of the Cross
5:30 pm Celebration of the Lord’s
Passion with veneration of the Cross
and Holy Communion
FORMER SOCIAL SECURITY JUDGE
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Social Security Disability Law
Offices in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Cottonport
Adjunct Professor (1994-1997), Northwestern State University
MEMBER: Louisiana State Bar Association, American Bar Association,
Baton Rouge Bar Association, Avoyelles Parish Bar Association, National
Organization of Social Security Claimant Representatives, Legal Services for
Purposes of Disability Committee (Louisiana State Bar Association).
(318) 487-0115
to schedule a free consultation
5515 John Eskew Blvd., Alexandria, LA 71303
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318-876-3174
CHURCH TODAY
MARCH 23, 2015
Holy Week Services
Sacred Heart, Moreauville
• 1 p.m. Rosary in the church, followed by Walking Way of the Cross
• 3 - 4 p.m. Confessions
• 8 p.m. Vigil Mas with Light Service
and Rites of Christian Initiation
• 6 p.m. Solemn Celebration of the
Lord’s Passion
• 8 p.m. Easter Vigil Mass
• 12- 3 p.m. Confession
• 3 p.m. Stations of the Cross
• 3 p.m. Veneration, Stations of the
Cross
Natchitoches
• 8 p.m. Vigil Mass
• 7:30 p.m. Easter Vigil Mass
St. Anthony, Bunkie
• 3 p.m. Good Friday service, followed by Confession until 5 p.m.
Church open until 6 p.m.
St. Anthony, Bunkie
Saturday, April 4
Holy Saturday
OLPS, Alexandria
• 3 -4 p.m. Confessions
• 3:45 - 4:15 p.m. Confessions
• 8:15 p.m. Easter Vigil Mass
Sunday, April 5
Easter Sunday
• 9 a.m. , 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection
of the Lord
OLPS, Alexandria
• 7 a.m. , 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and
5:30 p.m. Masses
• 8 a.m. Easter Mass
• 8 a.m. Mass, 9:30 a.m. Mass
11 a.m. Mass and 6 p.m. Mass
• Easter Egg Hunt after 9:30 a.m.
Mass (Children 7 years & under)
• Confessions before ALL
Masses
• 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. & 7
p.m. Masses. Confession --15
minutes before every Mass.
• 7 a.m., 9:30 a.m. Masses
• Easter Egg Hunt/Coffee & Donuts
after 9:30 a.m. Mass
Natchitoches
• 9 a.m., 11 a.m. 5 p.m. Easter
Sunday Masses
Holy Rosary, Emmanuel
• 7 a.m. Outdoor Sunrise Easter
Mass (weather permitting). Please
go to www.diocesealex.org to
confirm outdoor Mass if weather is
threatening
• 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 6:15 p.m.
Easter Sunday Masses
• 7 a.m. , 10 a.m., 6:30 p.m. Masses
St. Anthony, Bunkie
• 8 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Masses
For an updated list of Holy Week services, visit
www.diocesealex.org
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PAGE 9
Divine Mercy Sunday
April 12
Sunday, April 12
• Our Lady of Prompt Succor,
Alexandria
2 p.m. Confessions
3 p.m. Divine Mercy Holy Hour
(includes Adoration of the Blessed
Sacrament, Chaplet of Divine
Mercy, Sorrowful Mysteries of the
Rosary, short Way of the Cross,
Divine Mercy Prayers and Benediction).
• MB of the Immaculate Conception, Natchitoches
3:45 p.m. -- Divine Mercy Holy Hour,
followed by Holy Vespers
5 p.m. -- Traditional Latin Mass
• St. Louis Church, Glenmora
3 p.m. Divine Mercy service
• St. Alphonsus, Hessmer
2 -2:40 p.m. Confessions
3 p.m. Exposition, Chaplet of Mercy,
Rosary, Divine Mercy Prayers &
Benediction
• St. Anthony of Padua, Natchitoches
3 p.m. Sing Chaplet of Divine Mercy outside in front of newly
erected Divine Mercy display located in front of the church
To receive free daily Divine Mercy meditations from St. Faustina’s Diary
in a text to your phone or in an email to your computer, go to:
flocknote.com/divinemercydaily
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PAGE 10
CHURCH TODAY
Chrism Mass
MARCH 23, 2015
Seminarian Burses
Continued from pg. 6
Why do we use oils to annoint
in our sacraments?
Throughout the Bible, various references indicate the importance of olive oil in daily life.
Oil was used in cooking, particularly in the making of bread, that
basic food substance for nourishment (e.g. Nm 11:7-9); as a fuel
for lamps (e.g. Mt 25:1-9); and as
a healing agent in medicine (e.g.
Is 1:6 and Lk 10:34).
Moreover, with oil the Jews
anointed the head of a guest as a
sign of welcome (e.g. Lk 7:46),
beautified one’s appearance (e.g.
Ru 3:3) and prepared a body for
burial (e.g. Mk 16:1).
In religious practices, the
Jews also used oil to offer sacrifices (e.g. Ex 29:40); to dedicate
a memorial stone in honor of God
(e.g. Gn 28:18); and to consecrate the meeting tent, the ark of
the covenant, the table, the lampstand, the laver, the altar of incense, and the altar of holocausts
(e.g. Ex 31:26-29). The use of oil
was clearly a part of the daily life
of the people.
Sacred Scripture also attests
to the spiritual symbolism of oil.
For instance, Psalm 23:5 reads,
“You anoint my head with oil,”
signifying favor and strength
from the Lord; and Psalm 45:8
reads, “You love justice and hate
wickedness; therefore, God your
God, has anointed you with the
oil of gladness above your fellow
kings.”
Moreover, to be “the anointed” of the Lord indicated receiving a special vocation from the
Lord and the empowerment with
the Holy Spirit to fulfill that vocation: Jesus, echoing the words
of Isaiah, spoke, “The spirit of
the Lord is upon me; therefore,
He has anointed me” (Lk 4:18).
St. Paul emphasized this point,
“God is the one Who firmly establishes us along with you in
Christ; it is He Who anointed us
and has sealed us, thereby depositing the first payment, the Spirit
in our hearts” (2 Cor 1:21).
Therefore, the symbolism
of oil is rich sanctification, healing, strengthening, beautification,
dedication, consecration and sacrifice.
Given this heritage, the early
Church adopted the use of olive
oil for its sacramental rituals.
February Donations
Knights of Columbus, Council 9217 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25.00
Father Adrian Molenschot Burse
Father Rickey Gremillion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25.00
Deacon L. G. DeLoach Burse
Dr. Joseph Landreneau. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25.00
Mrs. Edna Rabalais Burse
SEMINARIAN DANIEL HART RECEIVES MINISTRY OF ACOLYTE.
His Excellency Bishop Paul Loverde of the Diocese of Arlington confers the Ministry of Acolyte on Alexandria seminarian Daniel Hart during
Mass in Rome. Hart was one of 54 seminarians to receive the Ministry of
Acolyte during a Mass March 1 in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. As part of the rite,
the Bishop places the paten, which contains the hosts for the celebration
of Mass, in the hands of each candidate and says, “Take this vessel with
bread for the celebration of the Eucharist. Make your life worthy of your
service at the table of the Lord and of his Church.” Daniel, currently in
his second year of formation for the priesthood, has two more years of
theological studies and spiritual formation before being ordained to the
priesthood in the Diocese of Alexandria.
Deacon and Mrs. Rodrick B. Broussard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50.00
Monsignor Milburn Broussard Burse
Dr. Joseph Landreneau. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100.00
Monsignor Henry Beckers Burse
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Schupbach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100.00
Monsignor Steve Testa Burse
Bayou Chateau Nursing Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100.00
Floyd LaCour, Sr. Burse
Tri-Community Nursing Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $100.00
Floyd LaCour, Sr. Burse
Mr. and Mrs. John Tumminello. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $150.00
Daryl “Pat” Mauterer Burse
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $200.00
Father Daniel Corkery Burse
Ms. Geraldine B. Deptula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,000.00
Father Bruce Miller
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,875.00
Contributions to any of the burses or to establish a new burse
should be sent to:
Diocese of Alexandria Chancery Office
P.O Box 7417 • Alexandria, LA 71306-0417
PAINTING OF DIVINE MERCY COMMISSIONED FOR ST. RITA
CHURCH. A canvas oil painting of the Divine Mercy image was commissioned by Roger and Lynn Black of St. Rita parish in Alexandria.
Father Craig Scott, pastor, blessed the painting on Sunday, March
1 after Mass at St. Rita Church, where it will hang in the foyer. At
the same time, Father Scott blessed the new “St. Joseph the Worker
Maintenance Shop and KC Council meeting room. The building was
built with funds provided by the KCs and a private donor.
CHURCH TODAY
MARCH 23, 2015
PAGE 11
St. Francis Xavier Church threatened by Union soldiers
Father Bellier defends his church while rest of Alexandria burns to the ground
By Jeannie Petrus
CT editor
Father Jean Pierre Bellier
could hear them coming in the
distance -- the Union soldiers
running wildly through the muddy streets of Alexandria with
burning torches setting fire to every home and business that stood
on the banks of the Red River on
May 13, 1864.
The town of Alexandria was
burning all around him and the
soldiers were headed for one of
the only two buildings left standing -- St. Francis Xavier Catholic
Church and the brick city hall.
Father Bellier grabbed his
gun and raced to the steps of his
beloved church, a small white
wood-frame church on Front
Street, built in 1834.
“Stop where you are!” Father
Bellier must have shouted as he
pointed his pistol at the soldiers.
“This is a Catholic Church and I
WILL NOT let you set fire to it!”
An illustration by Dominique Bach shows Father Bellier defending St.
Francis Xavier Church in 1864. The illustration is part of the Children’s
Book of the History of the Cathedral of Alexandria, published by the
Diocese of Alexandria and Editions de Signe.
You see, Father Bellier was
a learned French priest, who had
previously served in the French
army, and was the pastor of St.
Francis Xavier at the time. He
was not afraid of the Union soldiers. The soldiers respected his
courage and after a brief altercation, they left the church alone.
After the fire, Father Bellier
shared everything he had with
the people of the town who had
lost everything. When he died,
he was buried under the church,
along with five other priests.
It’s a true story in the history
of the Diocese of Alexandria and
one that parishioners of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral are proud to
share with others.
This year, Father Jim Ferguson, pastor along with a Civil
War re-enactment group from the
Forts Randolph and Buhlow State
Historic Site in Pineville, put on a
15-minute re-enactment March 7
o the steps of the Cathedral after
the 4 p.m. Mass.
“It’s very real,” said Father
Ferguson, who is gradually learning to “get into” the dramatic interpreation of the scene.
He said when they first
started doing this in 2012, the reenactment was not as realistic as
it is now.
“The first time the Union
soldiers came walking down the
streets of downtown Alexandria
with real fire torches and shouting loudly, it sounded so real,” he
said. “Some people around town
may have thought something awful was really happening.”
The re-enactment group
started on the Jackson Street
bridge, led by General Bank
on horseback and more than
50 Union soldiers on foot. The
group even supplied townspeople
dressed in clothing of that time.
Ironically, the small wooden
church accidentally burned to the
ground 30 years later and was replaced with the current Cathedral.
UNION SOLDIERS THREATEN CHURCH. Father Jim Ferguson, rector of St.
Francis Xavier Cathedral in Alexandria yields a pistol and reacts to the threats
of the Union soldiers to burn down the church, in a re-enactment of a day in
history in 1864. The pastor back then, Father Jean Pierre Bellier, defended the
small wood-framed church, (St. Francis Xavier), which was one of only two
buildings in the town of Alexandria that was not burned by the soldiers that day.
(Photo by Deacon Richard Mitchell)
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PAGE 12
CHURCH TODAY
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY (Tioga). The catechumen from Immaculate Heart of Mary Church is Eric Gordon. Candidates are Michael Lutrick and
Cathryn Grant.
MARCH 23, 2015
ST. RITA CHURCH (Alexandria). Candidates from St. Rita Church are Jeremy Duncan, Veronica Duncan, Lauren
Duncan, Ashlyn Duncan, Grant Duncan, Madelyn Duncan, and Ashlee Paulk.
SACRED HEART OF JESUS (Moreauville).
Catechuman is Dana Leigh Ducote.
ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL CHURCH (Leesville). Catechumens from St. Michael Church are Lara Owens, James Shaffer, and Cody
Wilkins. Candidates are Rebecca Simpson, Sylvia Meyer, Andre Hamm, and Michaela Hennessee.
ST. EDWARD MISSION (Fishville). The candidate from St. Edward Mission is Stephanie McCartney.
OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOR CHURCH (Alexandria). Catechumens from Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church are Erica Kuba, Paige McNaughton, Emily Reed, Kirsten Mudd, and Samantha Carter. Candidates are Kathy Englesman, Heather Allemond, Maurice Hebert, Betty Hebert,
and Joan Cheek.
MARCH 23, 2015
CHURCH TODAY
MATER DOLOROSA CHURCH (Plaucheville). Candidates from Mater Dolorosa
Church are Charles Knight, Sandra Barker, and Kristen Ezel.
PAGE 13
ST. LOUIS CHURCH (Glenmora). The catechumen
from St. Louis Church is Richard Fish.
ST. JULIANA CHURCH (Alexandria). The candidate from St. Juliana Church is Patricia Wells.
Rite of Election
Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015
Father James Ferguson, JCL, Rector and Celebrant
Catechumen: An unbaptized person being formed in the
Catholic faith in preparation for entry into the Church.
Candidate: Already baptized Christian who are preparing for
entry into full communion with the Catholic Church.
Not pictured: ST. MARY’S CHURCH (Winnsboro). The candidate from St. Mary’s Church is Jeffrey Easterling.
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CATHEDRAL (Alexandria). The catechumen from St. Francis Xavier Cathedral is Krista Paddie. Candidates are Carl Dunn, Kristy Kelley, Elizabeth McSween, and Charlene Meade.
SACRED HEART OF JESUS (Pineville). Catechumens from Sacred Heart of Jesus Church are Catherine Landry,
Gabby Thompson, and Sejin Ahn. Candidates are Brandi Moreau and Courtney Wolf.
ST. FRANCES CABRINI CHURCH (Alexandria). Catechumens from St.
Frances Cabrini Church are Conner Olver. Candidates are Gardner Deane,
Carol Alexander, and Devin Duong.
PAGE 14
CHURCH TODAY
SCOUT SUNDAY. Cub Scouts from Pack 9 from Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church in Alexandria, three Girl Scouts from a Methodist Church troop and three Boy Scouts from Kingsville Baptist
Church received awards from Bishop Ronald Herzog March 1 after the 11 a.m. Mass at St. Francis
MARCH 23, 2015
Xavier Cathedral. Members of the Pack 9 Cub Scouts who received the Light of Christ award
are
. Olivia DeRosa is the Pack Leader.
Shauntelle Greco named
Secretary of the Year
Father Edwin Rodriguez, pastor
of St. Alphonsus Church in Hessmer,
presents the Secretary of the Year
Award to Shauntelle Greco, secretary at St. Joseph Church in Marksville.
The award was presented Feb.
9 during the 10th annual Avoyelles
Secretary Appreciation Supper,
hoster by Father Edwin and St. Alphonsus Church. Shauntelle received a nice gift and her name was
added, along with past winners, to a
plaque that will be displayed in her
church office until the 2016 supper,
when it will be passed on to the next
winner.
After a social gathering, a delicious catered meal was served.
Those attending the supper included
Shauntelle Greco, Rosie Fanara,
Julia Voinche, Janeita Townsend,
Shirley Mayeux, Danity Coco, Bertha
Lavalais, Fr. Edwin Rodriguez, Gilda
Augustine, Juliette Linzay, and Delilah Aymond.
SAS takes home 1st and 2nd place in the Diocesan Catechetical Quiz Bowl
Catholic Schools throughout the Diocese competed in the Catechetical Quiz Bowl on March 14, 2015 in Alexandria, LA. Three teams represented St. Anthony
School.
Team 1 placed first and Team 2 placed second.
Pictured are Team 2 members (sitting at table on left)
. Standing are Ms. Melissa West, coach;
Mrs. Martha Coulon, principal; and Mr. Allen Wanersdorfer, team 3 coach. Sitting at the right table
are Team 1 members
Louis Lowrey, M.A.
Licensed Professional Counselor
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Offices located at 207 Church Street, Natchitoches
(318) 332-8422 • Pager (318) 252-2945
lowrey@cp-tel.net
Mail: 109 Royal Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457
MARCH 23, 2015
CHURCH TODAY
PAGE 15
ST. RITA CHURCH WOMEN OF GRACE. A 12-week spiritual formation program, Women of Grace, attracted 110 participants with many others put on a waiting list at St. Rita Church. The program
was put together by EWTN personality Johnnette Benkovic. For information on how to bring Women of Grace to your area in English or Spanish, call 1-800-558-5452 or visit www.womenofgrace.com
Women of Grace spiritual formation program comes to St. Rita parish
A new program offered during Lent at St. Rita Church in Alexandria attracted more than 110
women to sign up immediately,
with more placed on a waiting
list.
Women of Grace®, a 12week spiritual formation program
put together by EWTN personality Johnnette Benkovic, began
Feb. 9 in the parish, and will meet
weekly until May 4.
According to Christine
Gormsen, one of the program coordinators along with Desi Martin, the program is video-based,
which means the group watches a
video on some aspect of the faith.
Then the group is divided into
groups of 12, who then discuss
the video under the director or a
facilitator.
“We’ve had an awesome
response,” said Gormsen. “This
just shows how hungry we all are
for a deeper understanding of our
faith and a deep desire to grow in
our faith. We are so thankful to
our pastor, Father Craig Scott, for
bringing it to our parish.”
Regional coordinators Brenda Dooley and Stephanie Supple,
from Our Lady of Fatima Catholic
Church in Lafayette, were instrumental in bringing the program to
Father Scott and his parish.
“Parishes helping parishes,
spiritual sister helping spiritual
sister, is the key to unlocking new
doors where Women of Grace
studies can bear fruit. It was a
blessing for me to work with Father Scott and the women of St.
Rita parish and to see the Holy
Spirit at work last evening as they
launched their Lenten study,” said
Supple.
Facilitators of the St. Rita
group are Diana Basco, Carmen
Williamson, Christine Gormsen,
Desi Martin, Kimberly Harper,
Margaret Borrel, Cindy Campbell, Florence Sanders, Sharon
White, Ona Wilson, Patti Williams, Ellen Dunn, and Janet
Cargle.
“As pastor of St. Rita Church,
I can’t tell you how thrilled I am
to be offering this program,” said
Father Scott. “I had been searching for a program of spiritual
enrichment for women for some
time. Women of Grace is an answer to my prayers!”
“I believe the excitement and
enthusiasm of the coordinators,
facilitators and participants is a
true sign of the presence of the
Holy Spirit,” Scott continued. “I
know that Women of Grace will
produce fruit in our parish community for years to come.”
For more information on
how you can bring Women of
Grace to your area in English
or Spanish, please email us at
info@womenofgrace.com or call
1-800-558-5452, or visit www.
womenofgrace.com
Family of Fr. John Cunningham hosts 50th anniversary celebration
By Natalie Covher
Natchitoches Times
Family members, friends,
church members and neighbors
attended Father John Cunningham’s Anniversary Mass Feb. 20
at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception honoring
his ordination 50 years ago as a
Catholic priest.
Cunningham recals growing up in Natchitoches with his
older sister Lallah Hill Cunningham Methvin and two brothers,
William Peyton Cunningham, Jr.
and Joseph Payne Cunningham
Sr. He lived a block away from
St. Mary’s across from the courthouse. His family would go to
church every Sunday where he
and his brothers served as altar
boys. He remembers his mother
and father always being kind and
gentle with their teachings and
growing up around friends, relatives and neighbors.
Cunningham and his twin
brother William Peyton were both
CUNNINGHAM FAMILY CELEBRATION. Father John Cunningham celebrated Mass Feb. 20 at the Minor Basilica
of the Immaculate Conception in honor of his 50th anniversary as a priest. The family hosted a reception in his honor
after Mass. Pictured are (front row) Will Cunningham, Camille Cunningham, Peyton Cunningham II, Markay Cunningham, Catherine Faucheaux, Alicia Rainwater, Terri Cunningham and Tracy Cunningham. Back row: Peyton Cunningham III, Joe Jr. Cunningham, Katlyn Cunningham, Joe Sciba, L’Anne Sciba, Lisa Merrull, Father John Cunningham,
Mimi Methvin, Dewit Methvin, Drew Cunningham and Doug Rainwater. (Photo by Adrian Dempsey)
drafted into the U.S. Army and
were both sent to South Korea.
When he returned to the states at
the age of 25, he decided he wanted to become a priest. In 1959,
he traveled to Boston where he
attended St. Joseph Seminary
for the next six years. In Feb.
of 1965, he was ordained at Im-
maculate Conception Church in
Natchitoches by Bishop Charles
P. Greco. His first assignment
was at St. Paul the Apostle
Church in Mansura. During the
next 50 years he served at parishes throughout the AlexandriaShreveport diocese including Our
Lady of Fatima in Monroe, Christ
the King in Bossier City, Immaculate Conception in Natchitoches,
St. Jude in Bossier City, St. Anthony of Padua in Bunkie, St. Joseph in St. Joseph, and St. John
the Bapitst in Cloutierville.
While he was pastor at St.
Anthony in Bunkie, Scott Chemino, now the Vicar General for the
diocese, served for him at Mass
as an altar boy. Therefore, it was
only fitting that Father Chemino
was asked by Father Cunningham
to deliver the homily at the Anniversary Mass.
After 45 years as a priest, Father Cunningham has retired and
has currently settled in his hometown of Natchitoches.
PAGE 16
CHURCH TODAY
is presented with a check for $1,000 for her school,
Holy Savior Menard Central High School, after being named only one of two
Heisman Award winners in the state. She is the daughter of Kevin and Stephanie Robichaux of Woodworth.
wins Wendy’s
Heisman Award for Louisiana
, a senior
at Holy Savior Menard Central
High School, was chosen as one
of two recipients from Louisiana
to win the 2014 Wendy’s High
School Heisman Award.
The award is given to one
girl and one boy in each state in
recognition of the achievements
of exceptionally well-rounded
students. The program looks for
all-star performances of high
school seniors in the classroom,
in sports, and in the community.
Through the years, there have
been several Menard students to
be named semi-fi
in the
competition, but
is one
of only a select few from Menard
in the 20-year history of the
program to actually be named the
state
.
is an honor roll
student at Menard, a member
of the National Honor Society,
and Beta Club. She has also
won numerous academic awards,
scholarships, and placed at
Literary Rally.
Active in her faith,
is a member of the Menard
Apostles for Christ, Fellowship
of Chrisitian Athletes, and the
Junior Catholic Daughters. In her
home parish of Prompt Succor,
she is a member of the Youth
Group, the Parish Youth Council,
a lector, and Eucharistic minister.
Outside the classroom, she is
a member of the Golden Eaglettes
danceline, the varsity Cross
Country team, and the varsity
Track and Field team.
In 2014, she was the State
Champion in the LHSAA Division II, 1600 meter; a member of
the All-State Cross Country team
all four years of high school,
a member of the Menard Girls
Cross Country team that were
State Champions in 2011, 2013
and 2014.
MARCH 23, 2015
STUDENTS OF THE YEAR. Winners of the Regional Student of the Year competition are (from left)
with
his parents Monroe and Melinda Milton;
, with her parents Brooke and Patrick Deshotels; and
, with his father Dr. Joseph Badeaux.
3 Catholic students win Students of the Year
Superintendent of Catholic
Schools Thomas Roque hosted a
reception March 5 at the St. Joseph Catholic Center for the winners of the Regional Students of
the Year competition.
“These students are not only
talented students in the classroom and in leadership roles, but
are also a fine example of students who are very active in their
faith,” said Roque. “I join the
parents and family members here
today, to express how proud I am
of these students.”
, 5th grade
winner.
is an honor student at Sacred Heart School in
Moreauville. She is active in
many clubs and is very active in
her faith. She is the daughter of
Patri
Deshotels.
8th grade
winner.
is an officer in several organizations at Holy Sav-
OLPS 4H Club sends valentines to veterans. For Valentine’s Day, the 4H Club from Our Lady of Prompt
Succor School designed and decorated care packages/boxes for the veterans at the Alexandria VA Hospital. Designed
with a Valentine theme, each care package was filled with needed toiletry items, prayers and treats for the veterans at
the VA Hospital. Megan Thiels, OLPS 4H sponsor, delivered the heart-felt treats to the VA Hospital on Feb. 13.
ior Menard Junior High School.
He especially enjoys helping his
mother care for his
y sister, he
calls “Princess.”
is the son
of M
roe Milton.
12th grade
winner. Whether it’s playing
football or excelling in the class-
room,
goes that extra mile
to give it his best at Holy Savior Menard Central High School.
He is the son of J
fer and Dr.
Joseph Badeaux.
also competed in the state competition in
Baton Rouge. State winners have
not been announced.
MARCH 23, 2015
CHURCH TODAY
ST. MARY’S (Natchitoches) FBLA DISTRICT WINNERS. High school students from St. Mary’s FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) recently
competed in the state district conference held at NSU. Students who placed
1st in their category, (qualifying them for the state competition to be held next
month in Lafayette) are (front row)
ST. MARY’S (Natchitoches) REGIONAL QUIZ BOWL WINNERS.
St. Mary’s students participated in
the Regional Quiz Bowl Feb. 28 held
at St. Mary’s. Those students who
placed 1st out of 6 teams in their division are (front row)
chael Landry.
and sponsor Mi-
ST. MARY’S (Natchitoches) NHS.
St. Mary’s National Honor Society
members collected ramen noodles
for troops as part of their JanuaryFebruary community service project. Students delivered the ramen
noodles to Bank of Montgomery with
the help of their sponsor Leeanne
Bordelon. Pictured are
NHS Historian:
, NHS
President.
PAGE 17
Northwestern State University football players visited
PE classes at St. Mary’s School in
Natchitoches honoring the memory
of a former Demon by performing
community service on the 10th annual “Chris Waddell Day”. Not sure who
had more fun the St. Mary’s students
or the NSU football players!
St. Anthony School (Bunkie) RECOGNIZED AS A ‘WELLSPOT.”The
Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals presented St. Anthony School
in Bunkie with a medal recently for being the only school in the state to be
designated as a ‘WellSpot.” Pictured at the news conference held at LSUA are
Tommy Roque, superintendent of Catholic Schools; Robin Rhodes, from the
WellAhead Program; and Wellness committee members
, 8th
grade representative;
; Martha Coulon, principal; and
ST. ANTHONY SCHOOL POSTER
WINNER.
4th grade
student at St. Anthony School, won
first place at the school level and first
place in the parish for his poster design in the 4H Good Values Poster
Contest.
ST. ANTHONY SCHOOL (Bunkie) SCIENCE PROJECT. Mrs. Marlene Hernandez’s fifth grade class have been studying the Earth’s land biomes and
water ecosystems. Each student created a Shoebox Biome and shared interesting facts about their biome. They had fun working on the projects and
learned a lot while doing the research. Front row, left to right :
SACRED HEART SCHOOL (Moreauville) REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR WINNERS. Sacred Heart students who placed in the Regional Science Fair at
LSUA on March 7 are
honorable mention, Behavioral & Social Science and American Psychology Award;
, honorable
mention, Environmental Science;
, 3rd place, Behavioral
& Social Science;
, 1st place, Environmental Science;
, 2nd place, Mechanical Engineering;
, honorable
mention, Plant Science; and
, 2nd place, Plant Science.
SACRED HEART 1ST PLACE WINNER.
won 1st
place in the Speech competition at
the Junior Betta Club district competition. She is the daughter of Mrs. &
Mrs. Derek Scroggs of Marksville.
SACRED HEART BETA CLUB WINS AT DISTRICT. The Junior Beta Club
at Sacred Heart School in Moreauville also won 1st place at district in the “Living Literature” competition. They portrayed the Sorting the Hat scene found in
the Harry Potter series The Sorcerer’s Stone. Members of Harry Potter group
are
CHURCH TODAY
PAGE 18
MARCH 23, 2015
CDA Court Notre Dame establishes junior Court at Menard
Court Notre Dame 1452 of
the Catholic Daughters of America from Our Lady of Prompt
Succor in Alexandria recently
established a junior court at Holy
Savior Menard High School.
According to club sponsor
Jessica Sanders, a religion teacher
at Menard, one of the members of
the Notre Dame Court (Joan Lanius) approached her about establishing the junior court at Menard.
“Ms. Lanius said that a few
young girls from OLPS were already affiliated with the CDA at
OLPS, but thought it might grow
more under a high school setting,” said Sanders. “We brought
the organization to Menard in October of 2014 and more than 40
high school girls signed up.”
Officers elected for the new
junior court are Maddie Mitchell,
president; Cameron Erickson,
vice president; Abby Urbina, treasurer; and Alison Roy, secretary.
Under the leadership of the
officers, the group has visited
nursing homes, served at Manna
House, collected more than $600
in their “Pennies for Seminarians” campaign, and made more
than 500 Rosary bracelets for
each of the Menard students during their recent Rosary Walk during Catholic Schools Week. The
members were recognized and
officers installed during a weekly
school Mass held in February.
CDA JUNIOR COURT OFFICERS. Officers elected to head the new junior
court are
, president;
, vice president;
, treasurer; and
, secretary.
Catholic Daughters of America Courts announce winners of education competition
CDA Court 968 in Bunkie
announce winners
of education contest
Christine Rabalais, chairman of the Education Committee
for the Catholic Daughters Court
#968 of Bunkie, has announced
the winners of the annual Catholic Daughters education contest.
The categories are art and
essay stressing the theme “Love
Your Neighbor As Yourself”.
Winners
t are
(front row)
, 3rd
place art;
2nd
place essay; and
1st
place art.
Row 2
d
place art;
,
3
y; and 3rd row:
, 1st place essay.
Winners were awarded with
cash prizes and first place winners
entries will be entered in the state
competition.
CDA Court 1452 at OLPS
announce contest winners
Winners of the CDA Court
1452 Education contest are (front
row)
, Div. I Poetry, 1
,
Div. I Essay, 3r
, Div. I Essay, 2n
e.
ow
, Div. II
Essay, 1st
&
,D
tied
Catholic schools celebrate Mardi Gras with parades and courts
OLPS MARDI GRAS. Fr. Dan O’Connor, Fr. Bill Gearheard, and Jackie DeWorth, assistant principal at Our Lady of Prompt Succor get in the spirit of the
OLPS Mardi Gras parade.
ST. FRANCES CABRINI MARDI GRAS. Representing the Penny King and Queen of Mardi Gras are
and
with Father Chad Partain, pastor. Also participating in the St. Frances Cabrini School Mardi
Gras parade is the Krewe of Love Bugs.
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MARCH 23, 2015
CHURCH TODAY
PAGE 19
Fr. Partain blesses new Menard baseball fieldhouse
Honored guests are members of the Menard 1959 & 1960 Class AA state champions
Menard president Father
Chad Partain blessed and dedicated the new Menard Eagle Baseball Fieldhouse March 9, before a
crowd of players, parents, alumni
and supporters.
Honored guests of the dedication ceremony were members
of the 1959 and 1960 baseball
teams, who both won back-toback Class AA state championships.
“Lord, bless this new facility at Holy Savior Menard High
School, and all of its players,
coaches, alumni, friends and supporters who will use it today and
in the years to come,” prayed Father Partain.
According to Principal Joe
Desselle, the new facility includes
a locker and dressing room,
showers, an entertainment area,
office space for coaches, and a
new home dugout located outside
the building. The construction of
the fieldhouse was the project of
a group of anonymous donors at
Menard.
“We are very grateful to
the generous donors who made
this all possible,” said Desselle.
“There is no better high school
baseball facility comparable anywhere in Central Louisiana.”
Top left: The new Eagle Fieldhouse.
Top right: The entertainment room.
Middle left: Father Chad Partain
blesses the facility.
Middle right: Inside the player locker
room.
Bottom: Ken Ardoin, (far right) president of the Menard Alumni Association, welcomes six men who were
once part of the state championship
teams in 1959 and 1960 -- Philip
Flynn, Don Boniol, John Lauve, Barry
Ackel, Bob Boisvert, and Ernie Knobloch.
Brigitte Paul Kelso Insurance, LLC
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Brigitte Kelso
Owner/Agent
2918 S. MacArthur Dr.
Alexandria, La. 71301
Phone: 318.448.2226
Fax: 318.448.2280
kelsoins@yahoo.com
2914 N. Bolton Ave. • Alexandria, LA
442-2325
Diocese of Alexandria
PAGE 20
CHURCH TODAY
MARCH 23, 2015
Disney puts new life into popular fairy tale, Cinderella
By Joseph McAleer
(CNS) -- “Cinderella” (Disney) injects vibrant new life into a
venerable fairy tale. The result is
an exuberant live-action retelling
of the oft-filmed fable, the most
famous screen version of which
is Disney’s classic 1950 animated
feature.
Opting for fidelity and sincerity rather than a revisionist approach, director Kenneth
Branagh sticks to the basic story,
displaying genuine affection for
its iconic characters. Familiar yet
fresh, his delightful take, suitable
for the entire family, nicely brings
to the forefront dual lessons about
compassion and forgiveness.
There’s a lot of death in the
Cinderella story, but here that
aspect of the tale is treated gently. Ella (Lily James) tends to her
dying mother (Hayley Atwell),
whose final request to her is, “Always have courage and be kind.”
This becomes Ella’s life motto
-- and not a bad one at that. Her
sunny nature and good will inspire all creatures, great (fellow
humans) and small (white mice).
When her beloved father
(Ben Chaplin) remarries, Ella’s
patience is put to the test, but she
never gives in to the dark side.
The same, alas, cannot be said
for Ella’s new stepmother, Lady
Tremaine (Cate Blanchett), or
her shrieking stepsisters, Drizella
(Sophie McShera) and Anastasia
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MOVIE
REVIEW
CINDERELLA. Lily James and Richard Madden star in a scene from the movie “Cinderella.” The movie holds strong
values of compassion, kindness and forgiveness. Kids will love the short animated film Frozen Forever that is featured
before the movie. (CNS photo/Disney Enterprises)
(Holliday Grainger).
The ladies are ghastly in every respect, from their poor manners to their garish outfits. And
anyone who calls her cat Lucifer,
as Lady Tremaine does, is just
about bound to be wicked.
The standard narrative unfolds: Father dies, and Ella is
reduced to waiting on her obnoxious relations in the manner of a
servant. Covered in ashes from
cleaning the fireplace, she’s derisively dubbed “Cinderella.”
Riding her horse through
the forest one day, Cinderella encounters Kit (Richard Madden),
aka Prince Charming. They meet
cute but confused, she unaware of
his royal status, he not catching
her name. Cinderella retreats, and
the prince, his heart aflame, vows
to find the enchanting maiden.
A royal ball is arranged, with
an invitation to all eligible ladies
in the kingdom, titled or not. Lady
Tremaine forbids Cinderella to attend, tearing her dress to pieces.
Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother (Helena Bonham Carter),
naturally, has other ideas. The
transformation of pumpkin, mice,
lizards and a goose into a golden
coach, white horses, footmen and
driver, respectively, is one of the
highlights of the film.
The other standout is Cinderella’s shimmering blue dress. Not
since Scarlett O’Hara made an
outfit from old curtains in “Gone
with the Wind” has a skirt stolen
the show to such an extent, swishing and swirling across the dance
floor as though possessing a mind
of its own.
While there are a few twists
in store, a happy ending is assured, and the final message won’t
leave a dry eye in the house.
Preceding “Cinderella” is a
short animated film, “Frozen Fever,” featuring characters from
the blockbuster 2013 movie “Frozen.” It’s Princess Anna’s (voice
of Kristen Bell) birthday, and her
sister, Queen Elsa (voice of Idina
Menzel), is planning a party -- despite feeling unwell. Given Elsa’s
frost-producing proclivities, as
highlighted in the original, however, her sneezes bring predictably chilly consequences.
The Catholic News Service
classification is A-I . The Motion
Picture Association of America
rating is PG -- parental guidance
suggested.
MARCH 23, 2015
CHURCH TODAY
PAGE 21
A.D. The Bible Continues to begin airing Easter Sunday
NBC’s first digital talk show Beyond A.D. to follow the Bible mini-series
By Justin Craig
foxnews.com
From executive producers
Roma Downey (“The Bible”) and
Mark Burnett (“The Bible,” “The
Voice”) comes A.D The Bible
Continues, a new 10-part television series premiering on NBC on
Easter Sunday, April 5.
Just one week later, NBC
will also launch Beyond A.D., a
30-minute talk show series designed to create a discussion platform for fans.
A.D. The Bible Continues,
picks up where the smash hit
miniseries The Bible left off, continuing the greatest story ever
told and exploring the exciting
and inspiring events that followed
the Crucifixion of Christ.
The immediate aftermath of
Christ’s death had a massive impact on his disciples, his mother,
Mary, and key political and religious leaders of the era, completely altering the entire world
in an instant.
Beginning at that fateful
moment of the Crucifixion and
the Resurrection, A.D. The Bible
Continues will focus on the disciples who had to go forward and
spread the teachings of Christ to a
world dominated by political unrest, and the start of a whole new
religion that would dramatically
reshape the history of the world.
TV
REVIEW
A.D. THE BIBLE CONTINUES TO AIR EASTER SUNDAY. Jesus (Juan Pablo Di Pace) returns to his disciples after
his death and Resurrection, while his followers struggle with their mission to spread the word to the world.
Jesus (Juan Pablo Di Pace)
dies on the cross at the hands of
the Romans, deserted by even
his most loyal followers. Peter
(Adam Levy) and the disciples
are hunted by Temple authorities led by High Priest Caiaphas
(Richard Coyle) and Roman soldiers under orders from Governor
Pontius Pilate (Vincent Regan).
For the tiny band of followers, every day is a fight for survival, and
their mission to spread the word
to the world seems impossible.
Yet, they have hope and soon
they have power: the amazing
miracle of the Resurrection and
the shocking arrival of the Holy
Spirit upon them all at Pentecost
enables them to inspire more and
more people to join.
The growing church brings
challenges for Peter, John (Babou Alieu Ceesay) and Mary
Magdalene (Chipo Chung), who
are pushed to the limit; they face
trials and imprisonments, persecutions and punishments while
trying to understand the Godgiven power granted to them as
they transition from the sorrow of
Christ’s ultimate sacrifice to the
awe-inspiring wonder of the Resurrection and beyond.
Beyond A.D.
A week later, NBC will air
the first-ever digital talk show
“Beyond A.D.” to follow A.D.
The Bible Continues.
Hosted by E! News’ Jason
Kennedy, the talk show will be
taped before a live audience at
the Real Life Church in Southern
California. The 30-minute series will feature special celebrity
and musical guests and can be
streamed online.
“We are very excited to venture into the digital talk show
arena and feel Beyond A.D. is the
ideal digital companion to A.D.
The Bible Continues, said NBC
Entertainment executive vice
president Rob Hayes. “The series
lends itself to in-depth discussions between fans, cast, producers and special guests.”
A.D. The Bible Continues
producers, Downey and Burnett,
are also thrilled over the talk
show.
“’Beyond A.D.’ is a wonderful way to continue the conversation that A.D. has started,” the
husband-and-wife team said in a
statement. “We are excited that
Jason [Kennedy] is on board and
we have many incredible guests
lined up as well as cast members
who all will lend their voices to
what will be a lively show.”
The new talk show will allow
“A.D.” fans to learn more about
the historical and spiritual topics
that the broadcast will offer, in
addition to insight from the cast
and producers as well as other
special guests. Already scheduled
to appear is series star Juan di
Pablo who portrays Jesus as well
as Downey, Burnett, Rick Warren, Christine Caine, and many
more. Musical guests will include
All Sons & Daughters and Desperation Band, among others.
PAGE 22
CHURCH TODAY
St. Martin ABLAZE
Join us Saturday, March 28 from 5 - 9 .m. for St. Martin Church’s (Lecompte) ABLAZE, an evening of food,
friends, prayer, praise and worship for students in grades
7-12. Vigil Mass starts 5 p.m., followed by ABLAZE in
the Church Hall. Admission is free -- Bring a friend!
St. Mary’s Assumption School (Cottonport) will host
its annual Spring Fair on Saturday, March 21 beginning
at 7:30 a.m. with a 5K run/walk. Booths open at 10 a.m.
Lots of food booths; things for the kids to enjoy including
Jupiter Jumps, rock wall, a train, paintball, and games; a
silent and a live auction, and bingo. Listen to 80s rock music from D.O.D. (Days of Decadence) at 7 p.m.
BRIEFS
Mater Dolorosa Murder Mystery Dinner
A Junior High Rally will be held March 28 at Our
Lady of Prompt – Divine Providence Center, Alexandria
for 6, 7, and 8th grades. PJ Anderson, a musician and
songwriter, will be the guest speaker with music by the
Josh Blakesley Band. Cost is $20 per person up to March
20; $25 after March 20. The day is from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
including Vigil Mass. For more information, go to www.
diocesealex.org/youthministry, or email lnoel@diocesealex.org, or call 318-445-6424, ext 221.
Cross your heart and hope to die . . . murder at the
prom in 1959! Join the Mater Dolorosa (Plaucheville)
Youth Ministry on Saturday, April 11 at 7 p.m. for a Murder Mystery Dinner in the school gym. 50s style attire is
optional. $30 per person; $50 per couple. Call Allison @
359-0492; Grant @ 613-7248; or Amy @ 240-4626.
St. Mary’s Trail Ride
Louisiana Camp Joshua
Magnificat Brunch
Cenla Magnificat, a ministry to Catholic women,
will host their next brunch April 18 from 10 a.m. - noon
at St. Mary Assumption’s Church Hall in Cottonport. The
guest speaker will be Father Taylor Reynolds, a recently
ordained priest who had the opportunity to study in Rome.
Tickets are $15 in advance and must be purchased by April
15. No tickets sold at the door. For tickets call Mary Wilson @ 318-359-7735; Joan Gahagan @318-352-8701; or
Diane Ardoin @ 318-419-1547.
Marriage Prep Workshop
The next one-day marriage prep workshop, Strong
Foundations Marriage Preparation, will be held Sunday.
May 17 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the Family Center at Sacred
Heart Church in Pineville. Couples may register at www.
comprehensivetherapygroup.com. For more information,
call 318-792-9940.
Divine Mercy
Sunday
is
April 12
MARCH 23, 2015
St. Mary’s Assumption Spring Fair
DIOCESAN
Junior High Rally
Louisiana Camp Joshua (LCJ), a weekend pro-life
camp to train high school students to be pro-life leaders,
Dates for Camp Joshua 2015
• Baton Rouge: April 10-12
• Covington: May 1-3
• Shreveport: May 15-17
At Camp Joshua, you will experience top-notch workshops, classes, and activities, and you’ll learn from the nation’s leading pro-life experts. Contact Kandace Landreneau of LA Right to Life, at kandace@prolifelouisiana.org
or 1.866.463.5433.
FOUR GENERATIONS OF ST. MARY’S ASSUMPTION
SCHOOL. Pictured are (front row)Sharon Lemoine Juneau,
Sarah Lacombe Riche’,
and Roxane Juneau
Riche’. Back row: Mark Lacombe and Grant Riche’.
St. Mary’s Residential Training School invites you to
the 5th annual Trail Ride Fundraiser on Saturday, April 11.
The ride starts at 9 a.m. at 135 Turnage Road. Event includes a horse auction, hayrides for the kids, barrels, poles,
and games, and much more. Cost is $12 for adults and $5
for kids 14 and under. Lunch is included. For more information, call Russell at 318-793-4718
St. Joseph School BBQ Cookoff
Menard’s Production of ‘Guys and Dolls’
Holy Savior Menard’s Theatre Arts, under the direction of Cherise Rino, will perform Guys and Dolls, April
15-16, and 18-19 at the Coughlin Saunders Performing
Arts Center. Performances on April 15, 16, and 18, start
at 7 p.m. The performance on April 19 starts at 2 p.m.
No tickets are available for Friday, April 17. Tickets can
be purchased online at ticketcentral.org or at the Menard
front office. Pre-sale ticket prices are $12 and $15 at the
door. For more information, call 445-8233.
St. Mary’s Greco Bowl
Make plans now to attend the annual St. Mary Residential Training School’s Greco Bowl featuring Chef John
Folse on Sunday, May 31, from noon -2:30 p.m. at the
Gem of Alexandria (1014 A Third Street, Alexandria). The
event will include a cooking demonstration by Chef Folse,
giveaways, a cash bar, and silent auction. Each person
will also receive a special hand-crafted bowl made by one
of the residents. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased
in groups of 8 per table. For tickets or sponsorship, call
Megan Vets at 318-445-6443, ext 2313.
•
•
•
St. Joseph School in Plaucheville invites all interested
cooks to enter the Spring Fling BBQ Cook Off on Saturday, April 25 at the school. Registration is $30 and grilling
begins at 10 a.m. To register, call 318-922-3401 ext 3.
St. Joseph School Spring Fling
St. Joseph School in Plaucheville will host a Spring
Fling Color Run on Saturday, April 25 at 9 a.m. Choose
the 5K Run or the 1 mile Walk/Fun Run. Registration
is $20 per person; which includes a t-shirt. Registration
forms available at school; must be returned no later than
Friday, April 10.
Cabrini School Extreme Obstacles
St. Frances Cabrini School is offering Extreme Obstacles on Saturday, April 25. The 3-mile military style
obstacle course starts at 9 a.m. and includes water pits, zip
lines, wall climbing, tire obstacles, and much more. Registration is $25 per person, as a 4-person team; or $30 for
individuals. To register, go to www.active.com.
Behavior Modification
Obedience and Therapy
Pet Training
30-day Money Back Guarantee
985.226.6458
•
•
In home, Individual, and
Group Sessions Available
Phone Consultations
and Phone Assessments
• www.felinecaninecoach.com
CHURCH TODAY
MARCH 23, 2015
PAGE 23
March - April
Monday
Tuesday
23
Ordination of
Fr. Fernand Cheri
Auxiliary Bishop of
New Orleans, 2:00 p.m.
St. Louis Cathedral, New
Orleans
Wednesday
24
Lenten Reflection
for Seniors
9:00 a.m.
OLPS, Alexandria
VIRTUS Training
6:00 p.m.
SJCC, Alexandria
Thursday
25
Friday
26
PENANCE SERVICE
30
PRAY FOR FR. K. TEXADA
31
NO MEAT on FRIDAY
PRAY FOR FR. J. THOMAS
APRIL
Chrism Mass
11:00 a.m.
St. Francis Xavier
Cathedral, Alexandria
1
PRAY FOR FR. A. THOMPSON
2
6:00 p.m. Mary, Mother of
Jesus, Woodworth
6
St. Martin Church, Lecompte
29
PRAY FOR MSGR. J. TIMMERMANS
3
Outdoor
Way of the Cross
10:00 a.m.,
PALM SUNDAY
PRAY FOR FR. E. TIRKEY
PRAY FOR FR. A. TRAVIS
4
Minor Basilica, Natchitoches
5
Walking Way of the Cross
1:00 p.m.
Sacred Heart, Moreauville
PENANCE SERVICE
PRAY FOR FR. G. UZONDU
28
Passion Play
6:00 p.m.
St. Juliana, Alexandria
6:30 p.m. OLPS Alexandria
Lenten Mission -- Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Alexandria -- 6:30 p.m.
ABLAZE
for Youth
5:00-9:00 p.m.
Sunday
Jr. High Rally
9 a.m.-5 p.m. OLPS, Alex.
Plaucheville
Lenten Mission -- St. Mary’s Church, Winnsboro -- 6:00 p.m.
PRAY FOR MSGR. S. TESTA
27
Lenten Reflection Series
5:30 p.m. SFXC Alexandria
6:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m. St. Anthony, Bunkie St. Frances Cabrini
6:30 p.m. Mater Dolorosa,
Church, Alexandria
PENANCE SERVICES
Saturday
PRAY FOR FR. A. VARGHESE
PRAY FOR BISHOP R. HERZOG
7
HOLY THURSDAY
GOOD FRIDAY
FIRST FRIDAY
HOLY SATURDAY
FIRST SATURDAY
EASTER SUNDAY
PRAY FOR FR. V. VEAD
PRAY FOR FR. A. VELEZ
PRAY FOR FR. N. VIVIANO
PRAY FOR FR. J. XAVIER
8
9
10
Murder Mystery
Dinner
7:00 p.m.
11
12
St. Mary’s Trail Ride
9:00 a.m.
135 Turnage Road
Camp Joshua -- Baton Rouge
EASTER MONDAY
PRAY FOR FR. R. YOUNG
13
PRAY FOR FR. K. ZACHARIAH
14
PRAY FOR FR. A. AELAVANTHARA
PRAY FOR FR. T. ALLEN
15
16
PRAY FOR FR. S. BRANDOW
17
20
PRAY FOR FR. D. COOK
21
PRAY FOR FR. D. CORKERY
22
18
Magnificat Brunch
10:00 a.m - 12 noon
St. Mary’s Assumption,
Cottonport
PRAY FOR FR. J. BROCATO
19
Menard Production of Guys & Dolls
Menard Production of Guys & Dolls
PRAY FOR FR. S. CHEMINO
PRAY FOR FR. D. BRAQUET
SUNDAY of
DIVINE MERCY
PRAY FOR FR. J. CUNNINGHAM
23
PRAY FOR FR. W. DECOSTE
24
PRAY FOR FR. D. DEJESUS
25
5K Spring Fling
Color Run
& BBQ Cookoff
9:00 a.m.
St. Joseph School,
Plaucheville
PRAY FOR FR. J. FERGUSON
26
Extreme Obstacles
9:00 a.m.
St. Frances Cabrini
Church, Alexandria
PRAY FOR FR. P. FAULK
PRAY FOR FR. B. DESHAUTELLE
PRAY FOR FR. T. FEY
PRAY FOR FR. A. FIGREDO
PRAY FOR FR. R. GARRIONE
PRAY FOR FR. J. GOOTEE
PRAY FOR FR. W. GEARHEARD

church today - Diocese of Alexandria

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